Gustav l



- G. L. JAEGER.

B0X PASTBNER. 110. 251,592. Patented 1160.127, 1881.

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PATENT GUSTAV L. JAEGER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BOX-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 251,592, dated December27, 1881.

Application filed September 24, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUs'rAv L. JAEGER, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have inventednew and useful Improvements in Latches for Boxes, of which thefollowingis a specification.

This invention consists in the combination, with a box, of a latchprovided with a lip adapted to catch over the edge of the cover andwithan elastic shank which is fastened to the side or front of the box at apoint above its bottomend, whereby the elasticity of the shank is causedto retain the lipin its closing position; also, in the combination, witha box, of a latch provided with a lip adapted to catch over the edge otlthe cover and with an elastic shank which is fastened to the side oriront of the box at a point above its bottom end by a pivot on which itcan be turned, so that when the box is opened the latch can be turnedout of the way; further, in the combination, with a box and with anincline at the edge of the cover, ofa latch which is provided with a lipadapted -to catch over the edge of the cover and with an elastic shankwhich is fastened to the side or front of the box, so that when thecoveris depressed the incline on its inner edge forces the latch backand permits itto snap over the cover after the same has reached itsclosing position; also, in the combination,\vith a box, of a latch whichis secured to the side or front of the box, a lip formed on said latchand adapted to catch over the edge ot' the cover, and a nail-opening inthe lip to Facilitate the operation of opening the latch.

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure l represents a perspective view ofabox provided with my latch.Fig. 2 is a transverse section in the planexx,Fig.1. Fig. 3 is aperspective view of my latch detached. Fig. 4 is a section similar tothat shown in Fig. 2 when a spring-catch is combined with my latch. Fig.5 is a perspective view ofthe spring-catch detached. Fig. 6 is aperspective view of a box provided with a modied form of my latch, thelatch being closed. Fig. 7 is a similar view when the latch is open.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

(No model.)

In these drawings, the letter A designates the front side of a box, andB is the cover, which swings open on a hinge-joint ot' any suitableconstruction, and which is retained in its closing position by the latchC. This latch in the example shown in Figs.1, 2,3,and 4 is stamped outot' elastic sheet metal, and it is provided with a lip, a, and twospurs, b b, (Fig. 3,) which serve to secure the latch to the front side,A, in such a position that the lip a will catch over 6o the edge ofthecover B, and that the elasticity ofthe shank c of the latch will retainthe lip in its closing position.

By referring to Figs. 2 and 4 it will be seen that the shank c extendsbeyond the point at which the same is fastened to the box, so that theelasticity of the entire shank is brought into action.

Instead ot' using the spurs b b t'or fastening my latch on the frontside of the box, I can use L other means-such as a pivot, b', (see Figs.6 and 7,) which may be clinched on the inside, and which allows thelatch being turned to the position shown in Fig. 7, so that it is out ofthe way when the cover is being opened.

The edge d ot' the cover B is inclined, (see Figs. 2 and 4,) so thatwhen the cover is depressed the lip c ot the latch is forced back, andthen allowed to snap over the edge of the cover as soon as the same hasreached its clos- 30 ing position.

In the lip t is an opening,f, which allows of inserting the nail of thethumb, so as to force the latch back when the cover is to be opened; andin order to prevent the latch from opening spontaneously a spring-catch,D, may be applied to the cover, such as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, saidspring-catch being constructed to engage with the openingfin the lip ofthe latch,

as shown in Fig. 4. This spring-catch may also be provided with a lipextending over the inclined edge el of the cover B, to prevent abrasionof this edge. The latch C may, however, be retained in position sim plyby driving a tack through the openingf, which is of considerableimportance when the filled box is to be shipped. When the cover B isclosed the lip a of the latch lies flat upon its upper surface, so thatit does not interfere with the operation ot depressing the cover bymeans of a press nor 10 with the operation of piling up a number ofboxes or putting them up in a large case or package.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, With a box, of a latch provided With a lip adaptedtocatch over the edge of the cover and with an elastic shank which isfastened to the side or front 0f the box at a point above its bottomend, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination, with a box, of a latch provided with a lip adaptedto catch over the edge of the cover and With an elastic shank which isfastened to the side or front of the box at a point above its bottom endbya pivot on which it can be turned, substantially as and for thepurpose shown and described.

3. The combination, with a box and with an incline formed at the edge ofthe cover ofsaid box, of a latch which is provided With a lip adapted tocatch over the edge of the cover and with an elastic shank which isfastened to the side or front of the box beneath said incline,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination, with a box, of a latch which is secured to the sideor front of the box, a lip formed on said latch and adapted to catchover the edge of the cover, and a nail-opening in the lip to facilitatethe operation of opening the latch, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

GUSTAV L. JAEGER.

Vitnesses W. HAUFF, E. F. KAs'rENHUBnR.

